Question

Blackmoor Industries is an American firm that manufactures automotive parts. Blackmoor has two manufacturing facilities in the U.S. and one in a foreign country. Blackmoor's global managers have recently reported that they are having difficulty motivating their employees to meet various deadlines and production quotas.

Which of the following undermines the argument that Blackmoor's global managers should implement a merit-based reward system to motivate individual employees?

A) Blackmoor's foreign facility is located in Korea, a country characterized by a traditional value system.

B) The employees in Blackmoor's foreign facility belong to a highly individualistic culture.

C) Blackmoor's foreign facility is located in Canada.

D) The employees in Blackmoor's foreign facility favor a democratic style of leadership.

Answer 1

The idea of implementing a merit-based reward system at Blackmoor's facility in Korea may conflict with the collective focus of traditional Korean culture, where group harmony and collective achievement are more valued than individual performance. Option A

Step-by-step explanation:

The argument that Blackmoor's global managers should implement a merit-based reward system to motivate individual employees is potentially undermined by option A, which states that Blackmoor's foreign facility is located in Korea, a country characterized by a traditional value system.

In cultures with a collective focus, such as traditional Korean culture, the concept of individual rewards may not align with the prevailing societal values, which tend to emphasize group harmony and collective achievement over individual performance.

Therefore, while a merit-based reward system might be effective in individualistic cultures, it could indeed be less effective in cultures that do not traditionally value individual merit in the same way.

This consideration highlights the importance of understanding cultural differences and tailoring management strategies accordingly to motivate employees effectively across different cultural contexts. Option A